It's that time of year again. Gift guide season!
For the last couple of years, I've had fun putting together my list of favorite products. You can read some of my past guides, and other articles listing must-have goodies for adventurous dogs and their owners, here:
Note: some of the links below are affiliate links. This means when you click on a link and make a purchase, I will receive a few … [Read more...]

I get a TON of questions about Chester and Gretel's Hurtta waterproof dog jackets. Our readers primarily discover them through our Best Jackets for Dachshunds or I'm Throwing Out All of Our Jackets Except These articles or by seeing them in our Instagram photos.
I like that you guys are interested in them, and I really do like helping you out, but I find myself answering the same questions … [Read more...]

For our regular readers, you know I'm a gear snob. I want only the best, highest quality stuff for myself, Chester, and Gretel. While they still have several different jackets for traveling and walking around the City, I only use super warm and breathable waterproof ones for their hiking and outdoor adventures.
If you are looking for a waterproof jacket for your dog, please see my article The … [Read more...]

If you love to hike, camp, or travel, I'm sure you've a lot of great gear. Well, your dog deserves their own adventure gear too. Below are some of the things I discovered, and fell in love with, for Chester and Gretel in 2016.
For Adventure Days
Adventures with dog often involve some sort of packing, snacks, riding in a car, lounging outdoors, and leashes. These gifts will keep your pup … [Read more...]

There are, literally, probably 1 million different dog leashes out there. There are stylish leashes made of fun fabric patterns, colorful cotton rope leashes, leashes made of climbing rope, traditional nylon webbing leashes, leashes you can snap around your waist, and much, much more. The choices are overwhelming.
So what kind of leash is best for hiking with your dog? That answer is actually … [Read more...]

Please welcome Elena and her Dachshund Moo to the blog. I introduced her in our 6-year anniversary blog post the other day . Today is her second guest post on the blog.
I recently embarked on an outdoor excursion with Moo, two of my friends from work, and their two pups. Our four-legged companions made an unlikely trio: a Dachshund, a St. Bernese Mountain Dog, and a Shih Tzu. We opted for … [Read more...]

Please welcome Elena and her Dachshund Moo to the blog. I introduced her in our 6-year anniversary blog post yesterday . Today is her first guest post on the blog. Below is her review of the Natural Paws paw, ear, and skin products.
Moo and I recently moved to Washington from Texas. With changing climates and activity however, Moo HAS experienced some minor irritations, such as scratchy paw … [Read more...]

I kept an eye out for cool products all year precisely with you in mind. Every year around Christmas time, I like to share our favorites.
Note: This article contains affiliate links, which means that we get a few pennies, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase to help support this blog (and we really, really appreciate it!)
For Dachshunds
1) Teckelklub Luxy Jacket - This adorable … [Read more...]

I really watch Chester and Gretel's weight. That doesn't mean they don't get plenty of treats though. We have treats for photo shoots, treats to give them energy while hiking, treats to distract them from acting inappropriately in public situations, functional treats (treat/supplemement combos), rahab therapy treats, and treats just because.
I'm able to keep them slim because I balance the … [Read more...]

Fall is coming. I told you earlier how I used to dread it but I changed my attitude and now I look forward to several things. One of the reasons I look forward to fall is that I get to pull out my favorite dog jackets for keeping Chester and Gretel dry and warm.
Two of my go-to fall dog jackets are the Torrent Raincoat and Summit Parka from Hurtta. Together, they offer the perfect range of rain … [Read more...]

I've tried so much gear and so many products for Chester and Gretel - like beds, leashes, jackets, foods, etc. - over the years that I feel like I've tried almost everything. I'm starting to get to the point where I have our favorite things dialed in.
Don't get me wrong, I like to try the latest and greatest "ooooo shiny" stuff. However, I find very little that I like enough to dethrone our … [Read more...]

I previously shared our food journey with you and talked about how I transitioned from feeding Chester some junk dog food to feeding both dogs raw. If you missed the series, you can catch my last post about deciding to feed raw here.
I rotate their diet between a few different prepared, frozen raw foods but I prefer to feed Chester and Gretel food that is just organs, meat, blood, and bones … [Read more...]

A few months back I went to a recreational marijuana store. In the corner, I spotted "weed cookies" for dogs.
Ok, they weren't the kind of cookies that would get a dog stoned but they said "hemp" and had a cannabis leaf on the package. They were cannabidiol (CBD) dog treats, which I would later learn was about to explode onto the market for pets. Suddenly, I started seeing several brands of CBD … [Read more...]

As most of you know, I am on a quest to find the best alternatives to brushing your dog's teeth. By "alternatives", I don't mean "as good as". A doggy toothbrush is always the best method to help keep your dog's teeth clean, and combat the breath stank, at home. By "alternative", I mean "I don't have the discipline to brush Chester and Gretel's teeth but I don't feel right about doing nothing so … [Read more...]

Some of you may be wondering what happened with the Glyco Flex® Plus Challenge. Back in mid-September, Chester started the 30-day challenge - take Glyco Flex Plus for 30 days and see what happens.
Glyco Flex Plus was made for dogs that are showing signs of slowing down and having a harder time getting around (i.e. helps “crotchety” senior dogs).... of which Chester is one. Sort of. He is … [Read more...]

Welcome to my list of top 20 gift picks this season for "EveryDog", adventurous dogs, Dog Moms, and Dog Dads. Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means that I get a small percentage of each purchase you make to help keep this blog running. Others links may be to products and companies that I have worked with in the past. The products wouldn't be listed here though if I didn't love … [Read more...]

We can honestly say we knew Crusoe the Celebrity Dachshund before he was famous. We were about 2 years into our blog when we discovered and interviewed him as one of our Guest Adventurewieners. Back before he was famous and living the jet-setter lifestyle, his adventures were a lot like ours - hiking, snowshoeing, and kayaking (he still enjoys those things occasionally). It's been a treat watching … [Read more...]

I worked at a large outdoor retailer for years and have always been a gear junkie. I know a quality made product when I see it. I can also tell if something is just made to look like "outdoor adventure gear" for dogs or if it's actually going to work and hold up to repeated use.
As a pet blogger, I've seen a lot of stuff made for pets. There are a few brands that really stand out to me. Their … [Read more...]

"How hard could it be?" I said. Climbing a Colorado 14er is certainly no joke. I've hiked trails as steep but not at 12 - 14,000 feet above sea level. I, and avid hiker for years, was the one that had the biggest problem with the hike.
Hubby is NOT an avid hiker but he seemed totally fine. I think Gretel would have run to the top if we had let her. I ended up getting altitude sickness. What … [Read more...]

I've been in love with the PawNosh pet bowls since I first laid eyes on them. They are beautiful and remind me of my favorite thing to pick up at the beach - sea glass.
Their beauty has always been more than "skin deep" though. The PawNosh pet bowl helps to save the environment. These bowls are made in the US of 100% post-consumer recycled glass – keeping trash out of our landfills.
I … [Read more...]

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I Am Not Your Vet….

I am just a passionate pet parent that shares a lot of information on this blog. Some of it is researched facts; some of it is stuff I learned through the experience of owning and hiking with a Dachshund for 10 years; and some of it is just good ol' opinion. Please check with your veterinarian before your dog undertakes a new exercise routine, you introduce a new food, treat or supplement, or to confirm that anything I suggest here is a good fit for your dog.

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